*Here is the video* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhYpgWdPVYI#t=1257
I'll describe my working place and creative process and answer questions about it. it's a first try. 30 minutes of tuning and, if things turn well, 30 minutes of proper showing.

What are leaf portraits? Well they are getting up close to a leaf or a group of leaves and seeing the details and characteristics of them, and presenting them in some artistic sort of way, either through photography or artwork, such as drawings, paintings, prints, digital art, etc. So show us your Leaf Portraits, Fall or not. Up to 3 uploads per person. Feel free to invite others and comment and plus each others submissions. This is just for fun.

Here comes the first European Photo Show with +Michael Muraz and +Ugo Cei!
Discover some of Europe's finest photographers through their images, but also through their lives, their genres, their city and their best spots.
Every two weeks, on Thursday at 8PM CET, tune in to hear what's happening on Google+ and everywhere in Europe. Find out about all the events, the photowalks and everything around the European Photo theme.
For this first Episode, we are glad to welcome four guests: +helen sotiriadis, +Andy Gray, +Luca Cesari and +Charles Lupica. We'll be talking about European Photo and about these 4 great photographers' work and life.
Join us on Thursday at 8PM CET! Please share the event and invite as many people as possible.

"In The Spotlight!" is the On Air interview series from +Artists In The Plus bringing you closer than ever before to your favorite Artists. This new series will introduce you not only to the Artist's work, but their journey in the music industry, and their lives outside of music. On Monday March 4th we put +Mina Koo in the spotlight! You can watch the show here on the Event page or on YouTube goo.gl/qS77Z .

*Calling Photographers and Artists: Join us at the Weekend Art Marketplace.*
If you’ve posted in the marketplace already, just read the (NEW) section. If you’re a first-timer here, please take a few minutes to read the whole post. THANKS!
*(NEW) -> New this week.*
The marketplace will be open regular hours this weekend. Friday 6PM (your local time) to Sunday 6PM (your local time).
Until the end of the year, please also use the following tags when you post. #Christmas #ChristmasGift . These should be popular and should draw extra attention to your work and the Marketplace.
PLEASE! It’s very important to share this event. You can either use the “Invite” function within this event, or share this event to your circles.
(NEW) -> End of the NEW section.
……………………………………………………………………
*Just what is Weekend Art Marketplace?*
This weekend, November 30 - December 2, and every weekend thereafter, is the Weekend Art Marketplace. So what is it? It’s a time where G+ artists share their art with a worldwide G+ audience, and G+ art buyers can see what the community has to offer.
*Ooh, ooh, I’m an artist. Can I participate?*
Yes, you sure can!
See the Rules for Marketplace Participation below.
*What kind of art is suitable for the marketplace?*
Photography, Drawings, Digital Art, Paintings, Wood Carvings, Music, Sketches, Caricatures, Cartoons, Origami, Poetry, Books, and no doubt others. It’s all good!
*Why participate in this marketplace?*
Look at it this way. If you’re not in a marketplace, you’re a lone seller on an empty side street. When you join up with other artists in a marketplace, you’re in a big store on the main highway, where 100 times more people can view your work. Is that enough of a reason?
*So, how do I participate?*
To list an item in the marketplace, do this:
• Get the URL you want to display from your personal website, or from the website you sell from, whether it’s Zenfolio, Smugmug, FineArtAmerica, or another.
• Go to Google Plus, go to your “Share what’s new” box. Click the link icon, paste in the URL from step one. Your artwork should display in the photo area. Or for a better viewing experience, upload a larger version of the photo from the photo link. Don’t forget to put the website address in the G+ post!
• If possible, just give your audience a bit more information about your art. Information the viewer might find useful or interesting. What are they seeing? What was your inspiration?
• Feel free to create a Limited Time Promotion for your Google Plus viewers.
• Add the tag #WeekendArtMarketplace
• Add @102239645172983099492 to your circles. My name is for future updates and other features, like shared circles.
*Rules for Market Participation.*
• Remember that you are not selling here on Google Plus; you must link to another website where you sell your work.
• If you have less than 50,000 followers here on Google Plus, you can post five items per weekend. *

*Calling Photographers and Artists: Join us at the Weekend Art Marketplace.*
If you’ve posted in the marketplace already, just read the (NEW) section. If you’re a first-timer here, please take a few minutes to read the whole post. THANKS!
*(NEW) ---> New this week.*
The marketplace will open early this weekend. If it’s Friday where you are, the market is OPEN. Post away (within the limits).
Until the end of the year, please also use the following tags when you post. #Christmas #ChristmasGift. These should be popular and should draw extra attention to your work and the Marketplace.
PLEASE! It’s very important to share this event. You can either use the “Invite” function within this event, or share this event to your circles.
(NEW) ---> End of the NEW section.
……………………………………………………………………
*Just what is Weekend Art Marketplace?*
This weekend, November 23 - 25, and every weekend thereafter, is the Weekend Art Marketplace. So what is it? It’s a time where G+ artists share their art with a worldwide G+ audience, and G+ art buyers can see what the community has to offer.
*Ooh, ooh, I’m an artist. Can I participate?*
Yes, you sure can!
See the Rules for Marketplace Participation below.
*What kind of art is suitable for the marketplace?*
Photography, Drawings, Digital Art, Paintings, Wood Carvings, Music, Sketches, Caricatures, Cartoons, Origami, Poetry, Books, and no doubt others. It’s all good!
*Why participate in this marketplace?*
Look at it this way. If you’re not in a marketplace, you’re a lone seller on an empty side street. When you join up with other artists in a marketplace, you’re in a big store on the main highway, where 100 times more people can view your work. Is that enough of a reason?
*So, how do I participate?*
To list an item in the marketplace, do this:
• Get the URL you want to display from your personal website, or from the website you sell from, whether it’s Zenfolio, Smugmug, FineArtAmerica, or another.
• Go to Google Plus, go to your “Share what’s new” box. Click the link icon, paste in the URL from step one. Your artwork should display in the photo area. Or for a better viewing experience, upload a larger version of the photo from the photo link. Don’t forget to put the website address in the G+ post!
• If possible, just give your audience a bit more information about your art. Information the viewer might find useful or interesting. What are they seeing? What was your inspiration?
• Feel free to create a Limited Time Promotion for your Google Plus viewers.
• Add the tag #WeekendArtMarketplace.
• Add +Matt Shalvatis to your circles. My name is for future updates and other features, like shared circles.
*Rules for Market Participation.*
• Remember that you are not selling here on Google Plus; you must link to another website where you sell your work.
• If you have less than 50,000 followers here on Google Plus, you can post five items per weekend.

Still traveling backwards ... This crow belongs to a series, following the color wizard, a tribute to my late dad. He is also a tribute to #yayoikusamaAs such, no wonder he never turned as I planned. #madness took over...#colors #painting #drawing #sketch #lines #pleasure #acrylicpainting #contemporaryart #art #artwork #resist #allusive #figuration #collage #blastfromthepast ﻿

Still traveling backwards ... This crow belongs to a series, following the color wizard, a tribute to my late dad. He is also a tribute to #yayoikusamaAs such, no wonder he never turned as I planned. #madness took over...#colors #painting #drawing #sketch #lines #pleasure #acrylicpainting #contemporaryart #art #artwork #resist #allusive #figuration #collage #blastfromthepast ﻿___

I began to travel backwards yesterday, so let's go on.This crow belongs to a series, following the color wizard, a tribute to my late dad. He is also a tribute to #keithharing #colors #painting #drawing #sketch #lines #pleasure #acrylicpainting #contemporaryart #art #artwork #resist #allusive #figuration #collage #blastfromthepast ﻿

I began to travel backwards yesterday, so let's go on.This crow belongs to a series, following the color wizard, a tribute to my late dad. He is also a tribute to #keithharing #colors #painting #drawing #sketch #lines #pleasure #acrylicpainting #contemporaryart #art #artwork #resist #allusive #figuration #collage #blastfromthepast ﻿___

A small travel in time. My inner #arlequin a #selfportrait in patches. This #mixedmedia #painting triggered nasty remarks from one of those green spirits I used to attract. At that time, it shattered once more my fragile self-confidence. I took it out to frame it and and I noticed that one person, at least, appreciates it truly, Jules, my grand-son. He will be 2 years old in a few months but his opinion may eventually be paramount. So.... #joy #drawing #sketch #lines #pleasure #acrylicpainting #contemporaryart #art #artwork #resist #allusive #figuration #collage #blastfromthepast ﻿

A small travel in time. My inner #arlequin a #selfportrait in patches. This #mixedmedia #painting triggered nasty remarks from one of those green spirits I used to attract. At that time, it shattered once more my fragile self-confidence. I took it out to frame it and and I noticed that one person, at least, appreciates it truly, Jules, my grand-son. He will be 2 years old in a few months but his opinion may eventually be paramount. So.... #joy #drawing #sketch #lines #pleasure #acrylicpainting #contemporaryart #art #artwork #resist #allusive #figuration #collage #blastfromthepast ﻿___

I wish you a sweet FridayTimes are dire and we need love so I decided to draw anf paint kisses. I am currently working on a series inspired by the kiss of #brancusi : a #kiss in 4 rounds. This is round 4, #kissing , in turns #drawing #sketch #lines #pleasure #watercolor #graphite #contemporaryart #art #artwork #resist #allusive #figuration﻿

I wish you a sweet FridayTimes are dire and we need love so I decided to draw anf paint kisses. I am currently working on a series inspired by the kiss of #brancusi : a #kiss in 4 rounds. This is round 4, #kissing , in turns #drawing #sketch #lines #pleasure #watercolor #graphite #contemporaryart #art #artwork #resist #allusive #figuration﻿___

Times are dire and we need love so I decided to draw anf paint kisses. I am currently working on a series inspired by the kiss of #brancusi : a #kiss in 4 rounds. This is round 1, observation. #drawing #sketch #lines #pleasure #watercolor #graphite #contemporaryart #art #artwork #resist﻿

Times are dire and we need love so I decided to draw anf paint kisses. I am currently working on a series inspired by the kiss of #brancusi : a #kiss in 4 rounds. This is round 1, observation. #drawing #sketch #lines #pleasure #watercolor #graphite #contemporaryart #art #artwork #resist﻿___

My motto. As someone took the ladder away, I will cling to it #motto #create #feel #love #calligraphic #calligraphy #drawing #sketching I began with #pencilandpaper and turned to #digital to tweak the detailsThe proper order should be Feel, love, create;﻿

My motto. As someone took the ladder away, I will cling to it #motto #create #feel #love #calligraphic #calligraphy #drawing #sketching I began with #pencilandpaper and turned to #digital to tweak the detailsThe proper order should be Feel, love, create;﻿___

#calligraphy #drawing #writing #calligraphic #feltpen on #khadi #paper #workonpaper #contemporaryart #art #artwork #resistance #resist #copingwiththedarkside Given the state of things, I decided to take up a delayed project, doing a bigger version of this small work.﻿

#calligraphy #drawing #writing #calligraphic #feltpen on #khadi #paper #workonpaper #contemporaryart #art #artwork #resistance #resist #copingwiththedarkside Given the state of things, I decided to take up a delayed project, doing a bigger version of this small work.﻿___

I wish you a joyful Tuesday neverthelessPhoto of me working in my studio on a painting from the series "following the color Wizard" A happy image to make for the #sad #haiku that seing the news early in the morning inspired me.What's left for the kidsWhen our dreams turned sour. EarthHalf eaten. Oh what ? #joyful #colors #blastfromthepast #studio #painting #contemporaryart #art #workinprogress ﻿

I wish you a joyful Tuesday neverthelessPhoto of me working in my studio on a painting from the series "following the color Wizard" A happy image to make for the #sad #haiku that seing the news early in the morning inspired me.What's left for the kidsWhen our dreams turned sour. EarthHalf eaten. Oh what ? #joyful #colors #blastfromthepast #studio #painting #contemporaryart #art #workinprogress ﻿___

I wish you a great week. Mine would be promising if I was not struggling so hard with a painting. It makes me feel so powerless that I am quite unable to do anything else and enjoy myself....My #diabolic #hand which never paints what my brain imagines #mixedmedia #painting #acrylicpainting #painting #failure #fail #contemporaryart #art #nosatisfaction ﻿

I wish you a great week. Mine would be promising if I was not struggling so hard with a painting. It makes me feel so powerless that I am quite unable to do anything else and enjoy myself....My #diabolic #hand which never paints what my brain imagines #mixedmedia #painting #acrylicpainting #painting #failure #fail #contemporaryart #art #nosatisfaction ﻿___

This is an old #drawing done after an older project, a quick #sketch of my daughter Marie apparently quietly sleeping despite at a time where she was plagued with awful nightmares. #feltpen on #japanesepaper I was unsatisfied with it and still more with the painting I tried to do. This failure still nags me. So I am trying again. Let's see what will come out of it.﻿

This is an old #drawing done after an older project, a quick #sketch of my daughter Marie apparently quietly sleeping despite at a time where she was plagued with awful nightmares. #feltpen on #japanesepaper I was unsatisfied with it and still more with the painting I tried to do. This failure still nags me. So I am trying again. Let's see what will come out of it.﻿___

I wish you a sweet but not sad Tuesday#mixedmedia #painting #collage #acrylics memento for #AlexanderMacQueen #macqueen #contemporaryart #art #instaart #melancoly #portrait He was a fantastic creator but this did not prevent him from drowning in his own distress....﻿

I wish you a sweet but not sad Tuesday#mixedmedia #painting #collage #acrylics memento for #AlexanderMacQueen #macqueen #contemporaryart #art #instaart #melancoly #portrait He was a fantastic creator but this did not prevent him from drowning in his own distress....﻿___

I wish you a poetic Wenesday#Japanese #watercolor #watercolor #graphite #workonpaper #mixedmedia #painting #art #instaart #contemporaryart #woman #portrait #allusive #figuration #selfportrait in #verses #poetry #calligraphy Des vers pleins la tête The joke can't be translate. In French verses and worms are the same word. A head full of verses/worms.﻿

I wish you a poetic Wenesday#Japanese #watercolor #watercolor #graphite #workonpaper #mixedmedia #painting #art #instaart #contemporaryart #woman #portrait #allusive #figuration #selfportrait in #verses #poetry #calligraphy Des vers pleins la tête The joke can't be translate. In French verses and worms are the same word. A head full of verses/worms.﻿___

I wish you a really great dayI just made a #youtube #video about the #making and #meaning of that #work #KimKardashian, mermaid of the reality show, prisoner of her image, #mixedmedia #painting #art #instaart #contemporaryart #woman #portraithttps://youtu.be/u48gyyaan5Y﻿

I wish you a really great dayI just made a #youtube #video about the #making and #meaning of that #work #KimKardashian, mermaid of the reality show, prisoner of her image, #mixedmedia #painting #art #instaart #contemporaryart #woman #portraithttps://youtu.be/u48gyyaan5Y﻿___

3 years in prison #mixedmedia #contemporaryart #painting #ShortStory #art #fineart #instaart http://www.laslavia.com/wordpress/?p=3560a prison made out of her fears, a prison made out of anguishWritten in sept 2011, prompt by Nina Pelletier. The story is inspired by an anecdote lived by a friend, how he cured a girl from her dramatic heartache in an instant. 30 cmx30cm﻿

3 years in prison #mixedmedia #contemporaryart #painting #ShortStory #art #fineart #instaart http://www.laslavia.com/wordpress/?p=3560a prison made out of her fears, a prison made out of anguishWritten in sept 2011, prompt by Nina Pelletier. The story is inspired by an anecdote lived by a friend, how he cured a girl from her dramatic heartache in an instant. 30 cmx30cm﻿___

I wish you a great weekThis is an old work that I revamped slightly. #paris #portrait #mixedmedia #painting #collage #art #notredame #eiffeltower #laseine #roofs #zinc #haussmann #avenues #laboheme #Mimipinson ﻿

I wish you a great weekThis is an old work that I revamped slightly. #paris #portrait #mixedmedia #painting #collage #art #notredame #eiffeltower #laseine #roofs #zinc #haussmann #avenues #laboheme #Mimipinson ﻿___

Have a lovely Tuesday#mixedmedia #painting #watercolor #graphite #haiku #calligraphy In Eugene's eyeFeart burns of all its colorsHis hell is superb﻿I have done many versions of Eugene's #eye This #painting has been a true #obsession for the last 2 months. All the first versions have been garbaged. It has been very tough to achieve a sufficient result. Not really satisfying, just acceptable. But I was unable to drop the project.Probably because I have been deeply moved and impressed by the life and work of #Gabritchevsky﻿

Have a lovely Tuesday#mixedmedia #painting #watercolor #graphite #haiku #calligraphy In Eugene's eyeFeart burns of all its colorsHis hell is superb﻿I have done many versions of Eugene's #eye This #painting has been a true #obsession for the last 2 months. All the first versions have been garbaged. It has been very tough to achieve a sufficient result. Not really satisfying, just acceptable. But I was unable to drop the project.Probably because I have been deeply moved and impressed by the life and work of #Gabritchevsky﻿___

I wish you a great week#mixedmedia #painting #acrylicpainting #kleinblue #pigment #cardboard #caseinpainting #graphite #pencil #fibers #portrait #women Working on a series called the #7wives of #Bluebeard #Picasso. This is a variation around Picasso's Arlequin and his partner : the ogre and the woman he is to devour. #red for the muleta and that hidalgo's lock, dark eye and powerful nose...﻿

I wish you a great week#mixedmedia #painting #acrylicpainting #kleinblue #pigment #cardboard #caseinpainting #graphite #pencil #fibers #portrait #women Working on a series called the #7wives of #Bluebeard #Picasso. This is a variation around Picasso's Arlequin and his partner : the ogre and the woman he is to devour. #red for the muleta and that hidalgo's lock, dark eye and powerful nose...﻿___

I wish you a fullfilling TuesdayI wonder if doing the laundry and preparing the house for a serious return to work will be fullfilling for me...I may drop those important activities for a few moments to work on my penultimate version of Eugene's eye. My fear : once back to the easel it will we impossible to leave it to return to house chores.Another shot from my marvelous stroll in the botanical park of Menton﻿

I wish you a fullfilling TuesdayI wonder if doing the laundry and preparing the house for a serious return to work will be fullfilling for me...I may drop those important activities for a few moments to work on my penultimate version of Eugene's eye. My fear : once back to the easel it will we impossible to leave it to return to house chores.Another shot from my marvelous stroll in the botanical park of Menton﻿___

I wish you a great WednesdayOn my plate a good many things but all pleasant. Jam making, gardening, working on my stock of photos and writing the second episode of my detective stories The new mywteires of Paris﻿

I wish you a great WednesdayOn my plate a good many things but all pleasant. Jam making, gardening, working on my stock of photos and writing the second episode of my detective stories The new mywteires of Paris﻿___

I wish you a great Thursday#haiku #watercolor #pearlescent #pastel #blue #bluemood #blues #calligraphy #painting #writing #poetry #poem #aging definitively #bizarre and in fact very #darkmood The circle tightensOur steps are getting smallerWe enter winterI am not that old indeed but the news are so dire...﻿

I wish you a great Thursday#haiku #watercolor #pearlescent #pastel #blue #bluemood #blues #calligraphy #painting #writing #poetry #poem #aging definitively #bizarre and in fact very #darkmood The circle tightensOur steps are getting smallerWe enter winterI am not that old indeed but the news are so dire...﻿___

I wish you a great week #bathsheba the #temptress #adulteress and #kingdavid - #portrait of the #mother of #kingsalomon - #mixedmedia #painting inspired by a #medieval #illumination by #robertboyvin The background is an old #collage which I found a bit shallow called little pink messDavid one oversaw Bathsheba bathing. She was the wife of one of his general Uriah. But he fell in love, seduced her. She fell pregnant. The king managed to have Uriah killed in the war and married Batsheba. But their first child, the fruit of sin, died.In the illumination, the story is shortened, King Salomon sees a Bastheba already pregnant.In the different illuminations I have seen, Batsheba in her bath is always sinewy like a snake (the temptress...) and #pregnant﻿

I wish you a great week #bathsheba the #temptress #adulteress and #kingdavid - #portrait of the #mother of #kingsalomon - #mixedmedia #painting inspired by a #medieval #illumination by #robertboyvin The background is an old #collage which I found a bit shallow called little pink messDavid one oversaw Bathsheba bathing. She was the wife of one of his general Uriah. But he fell in love, seduced her. She fell pregnant. The king managed to have Uriah killed in the war and married Batsheba. But their first child, the fruit of sin, died.In the illumination, the story is shortened, King Salomon sees a Bastheba already pregnant.In the different illuminations I have seen, Batsheba in her bath is always sinewy like a snake (the temptress...) and #pregnant﻿___

I wish you a fantastic Tuesday #mixedmedia #portrait of the #fantastic Elsa #schiaparelli , #lady of the #shocking #pink #collage #acrylics I have begun this #painting quite 2 years ago. I had made the collage of the two pink and beige parts and knew it would be a tribute to Schiaparelli. I had collected materials about her and nothing came out of it. Then, yesterday, I have had an #eureka moment.﻿

I wish you a fantastic Tuesday #mixedmedia #portrait of the #fantastic Elsa #schiaparelli , #lady of the #shocking #pink #collage #acrylics I have begun this #painting quite 2 years ago. I had made the collage of the two pink and beige parts and knew it would be a tribute to Schiaparelli. I had collected materials about her and nothing came out of it. Then, yesterday, I have had an #eureka moment.﻿___

I wish you a day with many iridescent thoughts and I hope the best souvenirs of G+ are still ahead of me....They will be much needed to distract you from the news.... So sad that they distracted me and I wrote a word for another. This time my haiku is in want of a syllable. Back to the easel....It says : Attraper le fil / De pensées irisées / Enfant un instant#Gplus5﻿

I wish you a day with many iridescent thoughts and I hope the best souvenirs of G+ are still ahead of me....They will be much needed to distract you from the news.... So sad that they distracted me and I wrote a word for another. This time my haiku is in want of a syllable. Back to the easel....It says : Attraper le fil / De pensées irisées / Enfant un instant#Gplus5﻿___